9781005508777_

Bellevue Skyscrapers is an architectural survey of contemporary downtown Bellevue, Washington. The second edition documents the continued expansion and growth via 200 images covering over forty development projects. These multi-leveled structures have been photographed between 2016-2021 from a variety of perspective angles.

Amazon has begun construction on three important complex developments which will shift some of their headquarter operations from downtown Seattle. These complexes include the 555 Tower, Binary Tower and West Main Triple Tower Project.

The heightening of the downtown Bellevue skyline mirrors the prosperity and expansion of the communitys business base. Vickers photography isolates the aesthetic imprint of contemporary glass architecture design.

An accompanying essay Glass Curtain Architecture traces the historical evolution and layered components of glass exterior constructions.

The essay follows the evolution of high-rise structures dating from the ancient Roman era into contemporary design. Vickers traces the increased evolution of glass exteriors based on a fundamental architectural shift in structural emphasis beginning in the 20th century. Masonry based walls supporting the weight of structures were replaced by steel spined framing. The load-bearing hollow cylinders supported wall curtains that ultimately made glass panes an ideal fixture.

The traditional considerations for employing glass have included economics, ease and speed of installation and weight factors. Although significantly lighter than masonry, glass high-rises have come under increasing criticism and scrutiny for issues including energy consumption, CO2 emissions, privacy, slippage and projected lifespans.

Economics, engineering and construction management remain essential elements to preserving the equilibrium between beauty and practicality. In Bellevue, the sleek and gleaming reflective glass curtains reign and are anticipated to increase.

Straddling Lake Washington and connected to urban Seattle by two floating bridges, Bellevue is considered an Eastside boomburb (booming suburb). Bellevue, which translates into beautiful view in French, is a 37-square mile community with a growing population of 145,000. The cornerstone development is the Lincoln Square shopping complex and its extension completed during 2017. The majority of skyscraper planning began in the 1990s upon the outgrowth of Greater Seattle regional expansion.

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This edition is an architectural survey of contemporary downtown Bellevue, Washington. Documenting the citys explosive growth within the cor, the profiled mid-rise and high-rise developments cover the period of 2016-2023. The photography captures the projects from a variety of completion stages and perspective angles.

Suburban architecture projects dominated the focus of Puget Sounds architects post-World War II. The construction of the initial bridge across Lake Washington in 1939 radically changed Bellevue from merely being a farming community into a residential suburb directly linked with Seattle.

In 1940, Bellevue had only a population of 5,000 residents. That figure would only modestly increase to 6,000 by the end of the war. Population increases continued gradually throughout the 1950s. In the 1960 census, the population had reached 13,000. The 1960s witnessed a population expansion that by 1970 had increased the level to 61,000 residents. The emergence of the tech industry had a profound growth effect upon the city. In 1990, the population increased to 98,000 swelling to 152,000 by 2020. The city is currently ranked the 178th largest in the United States. City projections envision a 25 growth rate over the next twenty years.

Bellevue was officially incorporated in 1953. In 1963, the Evergreen Point Bridge opened across Lake Washington becoming a second commuter option. The positioning solidified Bellevues central hub status from Seattle into the Eastside suburbs. Essentially a bedroom community, Bellevue evolved into a major commercial center.

Bellevue steadily cultivated a business core attracting finance. insurance and real estate corporate headquarters. Two of the most prominent included T-Mobile and Smartsheet. The demographic educated base and elevated quality of life enticed decision makers at Google, Facebook and Amazon to establish a growing corporate presence. Additional technology firms and start-ups have followed.

The rate of growth within the downtown core accelerated beginning in 1996. Five initial skyscrapers were erected during the 1980s before development stalled during the early 1990s. A major element of the renewed stimulus involved creating a pedestrian friendly urban environment. Long range city-planning decisions created accompanying priorities to accommodate the influx of anticipated pedestrian traffic creating a desirable environment.

Bellevues sustained growth has stimulated infrastructure investment and developments including the expansion of Sound Transits Link Rail connecting Seattle with Bellevue and continuing to Redmond. The Grand Connection, a 1.5-mile pedestrian pathway begins at Lake Washington winding through the downtown. Restoration and transformation of the freeway network has coincided with expanded residential capacity.

...(*_*)9781005508777_

This edition is an architectural survey of contemporary downtown Bellevue, Washington. Documenting the city's explosive growth within the cor, the profiled mid-rise and high-rise developments cover the period of 2016-2023. The photography captures the projects from a variety of completion stages and perspective angles.

Suburban architecture projects dominated the focus of Puget Sound's architects post-World War II. The construction of the initial bridge across Lake Washington in 1939 radically changed Bellevue from merely being a farming community into a residential suburb directly linked with Seattle.

Bellevue was officially incorporated in 1953. In 1963, the Evergreen Point Bridge opened across Lake Washington becoming a second commuter option. The positioning solidified Bellevue's central hub status from Seattle into the Eastside suburbs. Essentially a bedroom community, Bellevue evolved into a major commercial center.

Bellevue's sustained growth has stimulated infrastructure investment and developments including the expansion of Sound Transit's Link Rail connecting Seattle with Bellevue and continuing to Redmond. The Grand Connection, a 1.5-mile pedestrian pathway begins at Lake Washington winding through the downtown. Restoration and transformation of the freeway network has coincided with expanded residential capacity.

Vertical Bellevue Washington: Architecture Above A Boomburg Skyline

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